Portable mechanical lung



Dec. 17, 1957 w. H. HAVERLAND.

PORTABLE MECHANICAL LUNG 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May .2, 1955 jn epfqrWilliam H.Hu.verlond Dec/17, 1957 w. H. HAVERLAND 2,816,540

PORTABLE MECHANICAL LUNG Filed May 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3A 2 vfive/17 0 Wil liqm H. Huverlcmd Dec. 17, 1957 w. H. HAVERLAND 2,816,540

PORTABLE MECHANICAL LUNG Filed May 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 FIG.3.

I fiz/e n for Wil lium H. Hclverlclnd Dec. 17, 1957 Filed May 2, 1955 W.H. HAVERLAND PORTABLE MECHANICAL LUNG 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.6.

FIG.5.

jivenfor- William H. Hoverlund ATTY.

Dec. 17, 1957 w. H. HAVERLAND PORTABLE MECHANICAL LUNG 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed May 2, 1955 INVENTORQ Wil lium'H. Haverland BY I VIA l'IIIIIIIIIIA United States Patent 9 Monaghan Company,-. Inc., Henverg.C'olo.,. a corporation of Colorado Application MayZ, 1955', Serial No;505,319

14 Claims; ((11.128-30) This invention relates to improvements inmedical equipment of the type employed for inducing, respiration inpersons suffering from injury or disease which impairs the functioningof the natural respiratory apparatus and is directed particularly to anew and novel equipment of this type designed for use by personssuffering from poliomyelitis.

Many types of apparatus have been designed, and are in use, for treatingpolio sufferers by subjecting the thoraxand abdomen of the patient. torhythmic changes in pneumatic pressure, one such type of apparatus beingthe well known iron lung in which the" entire body of the patient, withthe exception of the head, is encased. While these different types ofapparatus in the main are believed to function effectively for inducingalternate inhalations and exhalations of the patient, theyarestructurally of such character as to present certain difficulties inuse.

A particular object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide,in av manner as hereinafter set forth, a new and novel mechanical lung,structure which is so designed as to entirely avoid or materially reducethe difiiculties associated with the use of the heavy and difficultlyportable mechanical lung structures, of known construction.

Another object of the invention is. to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a new mechanical lung structure which is designedwith respect to weight, size and manipulation, for easy portabilitywhereby the device, with necessary power supply apparatus and while inoperation, is transportable in any standard ambulance or passengercarrying aircraft of five space capacity or more, or in any modernstation wagon.

Another object of the. invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a new mechanical lung structure designed so thatit may be readily transported manually, with its power supply and whilein operation, by a four man team.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new mechanicallung structure formedv tov provide an access opening of a length andwidth equal to the. full length and full width of the device, wherebythe placing of a patient therewithin or removal of a patient therefrommay be accomplished with a' minimum of handling and discomfort to thepatient and with maximum ease for nurses and attendants.

Another object of the present invention isto provide a new mechanicallung designed in a novel manner whereby it can be made light in weightandcan, therefore, be manually transported without requiring any undercarriage structure but which, to facilitate such manual handling andtransportation is equipped at its ends with extensible handles orcarrying bars.

Still another object. of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter stated wherein a new and novel means is provided for effectingan air tight seal between an upper part or section movable to providethe access opening and a lower or base'part.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a mechanical lungstructure wherein a. novel means is provided for securing the mainaccessdoor whereby the releasing or unlocking of, such door and raisingthe same to open position can. be effected in one motion with one handand from any position along the length of the structure and the sameprocedure. in reverse may be followed for closing and securing the door;

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a structure ofthe character stated, a novel head supporting means or head rest whichis. of relatively simple design and at the same time is easily operatedfor adjusting and supporting a patients head in. the desired position.

The invention has as still another object to provide in a device of thecharacter stated, a new and novel pad or mattress supporting spring unitwhich is readily placed. in or removed from operative position throughthe main access door.

The foregoing and other objects are. attained by the invention, theconstruction of which will be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with theunderstanding, however, that minor changes and modifications may be madein the invention so long as such changes or modifications mark nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portable mechanical lung structureconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the same beingviewed from the head end and on the access door side.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device viewed from the foot end andfrom the side opposite the main access door.

Fig. 3a is a sectional view in a vertical plane extending longitudinallythrough the center of the head end portion of the lung structure.

Fig. 3b is a corresponding section through the foot end portion of thestructure.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3b.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on an enlarged scale taken transversely ofthe hinge connection between the access door and the lower body portionshowing details of the sealing means, the section being takenapproximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig.3b.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of one of theextensible handles, the section being taken substantially on the line7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially onthe line 8-8 of Fig.1.

Fig. 9 is a View in perspective of the lung with the main access dooropen, showing the interior design.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially online 1010 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a detail section showing a portion of the mattress supportand a securing hook.

Fig. 12 is a side view of one door brace.

Fig. 13 is a top view of the door brace parts of the lung structure.

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14--14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a section on line 15-45 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a section on line 16.-16 of Fig. 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will be seen uponreference especially to Fig. 4 that the portable lung structure ofthepresent invention comprises a body, generally designated 10, which issubstantially semi-circular or semi-cylindrical in cross sectional form.

and adjacent The device is of the all metal monocoque type constructionand consists essentially of two basic parts or sections which aredesignated a and 10b. These two sections or basic parts are structurallycomplete in themselves and are hingedly coupled together in the mannerhereinafter particularly described.

The portion 10a of the body constitutes the main or base portion whilethe portion 10b, which is shiftable relative to the base portionconstitutes the access door by way of which entrance is had to theinterior of the body for placing the patient therein or removing thepatient therefrom.

The main or base portion includes the top and back wall forming section12 of curved form in the transverse direction of the structure whichjoins in its lower part with a low back wall section 14. This low backwail section merges with the undercurved bottom flange 16 which iscontinuous along the front and rear sides and across the ends of thebase portion and terminates at the inwardly directed edge in theupturned rib 1612. This rib 16a rigidifies the base and the continuousflange 16 provides the supporting bottom for the device.

The portion 10b forming the access door also embodies the top and frontwall forming section 18 which is of the same radius as the section 12with which it is concentric thus forming the substantially semi-circulartransverse contour of the body.

The section 18 joins or is continuous with the low front wall section20.

The ends of the body are closed by the integral head and foot end walls21 and 22 respectively. These end walls are upwardly and inwardlyinclined and each is divided in two parts, the wall 21 being divided inthe parts 21a and 21b and the wall 22 being divided in parts 22a and22b. As shown the parts 21a and 22a are a part of the main or baseportion 10a of the body while the end wall parts 21b and 22b are a partof the access door portion 10b.

The main body base portion has the access opening 23 which is defined bythe longitudinal top and bottom edges 24 and 25 respectively and the endwall edges 26.

coinciding with the access opening edges are the corresponding top andbottom longitudinal edges 27 and 23 respectively of the main access doorportion and the end wall edges 29 thereof. The meeting edges of thesetwo portions lie in a straight plane at an angle to the bottom of thebody structure, which plane cuts across the longitudinal verticalcentral plane of the body as shown in Pig. 4 whereby the meeting oropposing top edges 24 and 27 he on the opposite side of the verticalcentral plane from the meeting bottom edges 25 and 28. Thus there isprovided an access opening, when the top section is elevated or raisedfrom the base section, the length and width of which are equal to thelength and width of the body proper.

The main access door portion 10b is joined along the top edge 27 thereofwith the opposing top edge 24 of the base portion by the hinge 30 whichmay be of any suitable character but preferably of the type known as apiano hinge and which is illustrated as comprising the two plates 31 and32 secured respectively to the edges 24 and 27 by rivets 33, or othersuitable means, as shown in Fig. 5. These plates carry the conventionalinterengaging or interdigitating hinge knuckles 34 through which extendsthe hinge pin 35.

Extending transversely of the base portion of the structure between theinwardly curved bottom flanges 16 are hollow beams 36 which arepreferably of U-cross section with the channel directed upwardly and theends of these beams curve upwardly as indicated at 36a against the innerfaces of the flanges 16 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Overlying each of the beams 36 is a downwardly bowed transverselyextending cradle beam 37 which also is preferably of channel form, withthe channel directed downwardly as illustrated in Figs. 3a and 3b. Theouter ends of the cradle beams are secured to the upturned end portions36a of the bottom beams 36 as shown in Fig. 4 and the midportion of eachcradle beam 37 has the edges of its side flanges in contact with the topedges of the side flanges of the underlying beam 36 as shown in Figs. 3aand 3b.

In addition to the cross beams 36 and 37 there are provided thetransverse plates 38 each of which is secured against one side of eachpair of cross beams. With this construction a relatively light butstrong and rigid bottom frame is provided.

The numeral 39 generally designates the bottom or floor pan which restsupon the concave top surfaces of the cradle beams 37 as shown in Fig. 4and this pan is bordered along its sides and across its ends by theintegral upturned flanges 40 which are welded, riveted or otherwisesecured in air tight connection with and against the inner sides of thebottom flanges 16 and the end walls 21 and 22.

At the foot end of the structure the wall 22 has extended therethroughthrough openings 40' formed adjacent each side of the structure, a guidetube 41 for receiving a sliding handle bar 42. As shown in Fig. 7 theguide tube 41 extends at its inner end through the adjacent cross plate38 to which it is secured by welding or any other suitable manner. Inline with this tube 41 the next adjacent cross plate 38 has an opening43 formed therethrough, through which slidably extends the inner end ofthe handle bar 42. Thus the handle bars at the foot end of the devicemay be shifted inwardly to the position in which they are shown in Fig.2 or they may be extended for carrying the device. Each bar 42 hassecured thereto at its inner end a stop element 44 which limits theoutward movement thereof as will be readily obvious.

The head wall 21 likewise has secured thereto and extending therethroughat each side of the device the handle bar guide tube 45 as shown inFig. 1. The inner ends of these tubes 45 are secured within thestructure to cross plates 38 in the same manner as the tube 41 isillustrated in Fig. 7 and accordingly no specific illustration has beenmade of this construction. Each of the tubes 45 has slidably positionedtherein a handle bar 46 which is adapted to be drawn outwardly to asubstantial extent when the device is to be manually transported. Asshown in Fig. 1 the handle bar guide tubes 45 are of materially greaterlength than the tubes 41 whereby the bars 46 can be placed in operativeposition a substantial distance outwardly longitudinally of the devicefrom the head wall 21 to avoid interference with the hereinafterdescribed head rest or support.

The head end wall 21 has formed in the part 21a thereof the head opening47. Secured to this part 21a in encircling relation with the headopening is a conventional type of collar seal which is generallydesignated 48. This collar seal is here illustrated as being of the typeknown as the spiratwist wherein there are provided the concentric fixedand rotatable rings 49 and 50 respectively between which are connectedthe ends of a thin rubber sleeve or cuff which, when the ring 50 isturned relative to the ring'49 is twisted axially to form the iris-likediaphragm 51 having the central aperture 51a.

While a specific type of collar seal has been illustrated it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the use of a seal ofthis character as it is contemplated as being within the purview of theinvention to use a standard sponge collar seal or a seal of any othersuitable form of construction.

Mounted upon the lower part of the head end wall 21 is a head rest whichis generally designated 52. This head rest is of relatively simpleconstruction and is readily adjustable to elevate or lower the patientshead to the most comfortable position.

The head rest comprises a pair of brackets 53 which are secured to thepart 21a of the wall 21 at opposite sides of the head opening adjacentto the lower portion thereof. Extending forwardly with respect to thehead opening and straddling the same is a substantially .U- shaped frame54 which comprises the side bars 55 and the cross connecting bar 56. Thefree ends of the side bars 55 are each pivotally attached as at 57 to abracket whereby the frame may be swung up or down on a transverse axis.

Pivotally attached at 58 to each bracket above the pivot 57 is one endof a longitudinally slotted brace link 59 the opposite end of whichextends downwardly and forwardly across the adjacent frame leg 55 atapproximately midway of its ends and extending transversely through eachframe leg 55 is a tightening screw 60 which passes through the slot ofthe adjacent link 59 and carries upon its outer end the thumb nut 61which when drawn up on the screw draws the head of the screw against theadjacent link to secure the latter in adjusted position.

Suspended between the side arms 55 of the frame 54 is a head rest whichcomprises a sling 62 formed of a strip of suitable fabric or othermaterial having its ends attached to plates 63. Each of these plates 63,midway between its ends, is attached to or hung on the inner end of alock screw 60 as illustrated whereby as the frame 54 is raised orlowered the swing will likewise be shifted and due to the single pivotalsuspension at .each end it will always adjust itself to the mostcomfortable position for the head of the patient.

Disposed horizontally within the base portion just above the bottom pan39 is the mattress or pad support which is generally designated 64. Thissupport comprises a sheet 65 of suitable resilient or spring material,preference being had for expanded metal similar to that employedcommercially for plaster wall constructions, although the invention isnot limited to the use of such.

This expanded metal sheet is, of course, of foraminous form and is ofproper length and width to fit the interior of the base portion of thebody approximately in the horizontal plane of the bottom edge of theaccess opening.

The pad support sheet 65 is supported solely by a number of screw hooks66 surrounding the edges thereof and engaged in apertures along theedges. These hooks have threaded shanks 67 extended through suitableapertures in the base portion wall to the outside and each receives onits outer end, a securing nut 67a. By drawing the hooks outwardly, bythe nuts 67a on the outer ends the pad supporting sheet may be drawn toa tight horizontal condition.

As shown in Fig. 9 the pad support lies in the plane of the bottom edge25 of the access opening or slightly below the same.

In order to maintain an air tight seal between the meeting edges of theaccess opening and the access door there is provided a continuoussealing coupling generally designated 68. This sealing couplingcomprises two coacting parts one of which is carried by the access dooron the inner surface thereof while the other part is secured to theinner surface of the wall of the base portion. One of the two parts ofthe sealing coupling 68 comprises a channel frame which borders the edgeof the access door and which is generally designated 69. This channelframe comprises the band strip 70 which, shown in Fig. 5, along the topedge of the access door positions against the hinge plate 31 and issecured by the rivets 33 while other rivets 33a secure the band strip tothe door along the end edges and along the bottom edge, one of theseother rivets being illustrated in Fig. 6.

The end of the band strip 70 which is adjacent to the access door edgehas extending inwardly therefrom the flange 71 and this flange at theinner edge carries the right angularly directed lip 72 which extends inthe opposite direction from the strip 70 and thus forms together withthe flange 71 and the adjacent or opposing portion of the door wall, achannel 73.

Lying within and extending throughout the length. of

the channel along the four sides or edges of the access 6 door is asealing cushion 74 of rubber or other suitable resilient material.

Coacting with the channel frame and secured to the inner side of thebody wall around the access opening is the fixed band strip 75 whichalong the top edge of the opening lies against the inner side of thehinge plate 32 and secured thereto by the rivets 33 while along the endand bottom edges of the opening suitable additional rivets 33b areprovided as shown in Fig. 6 and which rivets along the bottom edge ofthe opening also pass through the adjacent upturned flange 40 of thefloor pan as illustrated.

The band strip 75 carries along the edge thereof which is adjacent tothe edge of the access opening, the inwardly extending presser foot 76for engagement against the resilient pad 74 in the adjacent channel andthe face of this foot which engages the pad is transversely curved orconvexed as indicated at 77 so as to press firmly into the pad and thusform a tight seal when the coacting parts are brought into operativerelation upon the closing of the access door.

The numeral 78 generally designates an access door locking means wherebythe door is secured at a number of locations at its lower edge to theadjacent part of the base portion and also whereby the means forsecuring the door at such several locations may be actuatedsimultaneously to release the door and swing it upward to open positionor to lock the door when it has been closed.

The locking means comprises the several articulated units 79 which aresecured in the manner about to be described to the bottom edge of theaccess door, together with the cooperating holding lugs 80 with each ofwhich the unit 79 is coupled.

Each of the holding lugs 88 comprises a plate portion 81 which isriveted to the base portion below the bottom edge of the access openingand such plate carries at its upper end the upwardly and outwardlyextending portion 82 which terminates in the short downturned lip 83thus forming a downwardly opening or directed angle.

Each of the locking units 79 comprises an upper arm portion 84 which ispivotally attached to the access door at or adjacent to the lower edgeas indicated at 85 and the lower arm 86 which is pivotally supported asat 87 between a pair of spaced ears 84a forming a part of the upper arm84, to swing on an axis parallel to the pivot axis 85 for the upper arm.As illustrated the upper arm 84 is formed on the side adjacent to theaccess door to receive the lip 83 of a holding lug when the door isclosed and the pair of arms are in downwardly hanging position and whenin this position an upper end portion 86a of the lower arm 86 is adaptedto engage under the tongue 83 in the angle between the tongue and theportion 82 and apply an upward thrust thereagainst when the lower end ofthe arm 86 is swung inwardly toward the adjacent flange 16 until thepivot axis 87 moves to a past center position with respect to the anglein which the end 86a of the lower arm is engaged.

To facilitate the movement of the arms 86 of the several locking unitssimultaneously the lower or free ends of the arms 86 are connected tothe operating bar 88 which extends lengthwise of the device as isclearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that when the bar 88 ispulled outwardly and upwardly the arms 86 of the several latches will bedisengaged from the holding lugs and the access door is free to swingupwardly to open position. Obviously, when the door is closed a reverseswinging movement of the bar will re-engage the upper ends of the arms86 with the lugs to secure the door.

For the support of the main access door either fully raised, or opened,or in partly opened position there is provided, at each end of the body,or each end of the access door, a brace, or support unit generallydesignated 7 89. This unit comprises a bar 90 having a socket formingmeans 91, at one end in which is engaged the ball head 92 of a stud orpost 92a secured to the end wall of the main body portion.

On the adjacent end wall portion of the access door the the bar isslidably gripped by the pivoted clamp guide 93, comprising two plates93a and 93b having in their confronting faces the channels 930 in whichthe bar is received. These two plates are drawn, or secured, together bya wing screw S which extends through one plate, here shown as plate 93a,and is threaded into the other plate, such as plate 93b, which may betermed the inner or under plate.

The plates are coupled to the ball head 92' of a post 92" secured to theaccess door, by engagement of the head in confronting sockets 91a and91b in the opposing faces of the plates, as shown.

As will be seen, loosening of the thumb screw S the bar will be releasedfor sliding movement between the plates to facilitate swinging theaccess door to open or closed position, or to selected intermediatepositions.

While the supporting unit 89 here shown is of a preferred construction,it is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the inventionto this construction, as any other suitable brace may be employed.

The numeral 94 designates windows in the top part of the access door topwall section 18 through which nurses or attendants may watch a patientin the lung or give to the patient such attention as may be required.These windows may be formed of suitable fracture-proof glass ortransparent plastic and are hermetically sealed around the edges to theedges of the window opening 95 formed through the metal wall or skin ofthe apparatus body.

To facilitate manual treatment of a patient the wall section 18 of themain access door is provided with a pair of hand holes 96, each locatedadjacent to one end of the door and these holes are covered byconventional sponge rubber washers or doughnuts 97, the opening or hole98 of which is somewhat smaller than the human wrist which it isintended to encircle when the hand is extended therethrough. Thesesponge rubber washers 97 are maintained in place by rings 99 placedagainst the outer sides thereof and riveted as indicated at 100 to thewall of the door and each of the rings has fitted therein the door plate101 which at its lower edge is hingedly connected to the ring asindicated at 102 whereby it may be swung to open position to uncover thewasher 97. When in closed position a pivoted latch element 103 carriedby the ring is swung into position over the face of the door plate tomaintain it tightly against the underlying washer.

In the central part of the main access door there is provided arectangular utensil opening 104. Encircling this opening on the outerside of the door is the resilient gasket 105 which is enclosed withinand secured in place against the wall 18 by the metal frame 106. This inturn is drawn tightly to position by means of the stud bolts 107 carriedby the wall 18 and extending through openings in the frame 106 toreceive upon the threaded outer ends thereof the thumb nuts 108.

Adapted to substantially fit the frame 106 is the rectangular door plate109 which is hinged along its bottom edge as indicated at 110 to thebottom portion of the frame 106 and the frame has pivotally attachedthereto at the sides and at the top, the latch elements 110a which areadapted to swing inwardly to secure the door plate 109 firmly againstthe gasket 105.

The door plate 109 is provided with an arm opening 111, corresponding tothe openings 96 and which opening is covered by the sponge rubber gasket112 positioned against the outer side of the door plate and held inposition by the clamping ring 113. This ring like the rings 99 hasfitted therein the circular door plate 114 which is.

8 pivoted at the bottom part of the ring and held in place in the samemanner as the circular door plates 101.

By the provision of the opening 104 a nurse or attendant is able toplace into the mechanical lung body necessary utensils for the use ofthe patient without having to open the main access door and theprovision of the third or centrally located arm opening in the doorplate 109 permits a nurse or attendant to work at the head end of thestructure by the use of this central opening with the forward opening 96or at the foot of the structure by the use of the central opening withthe rear opening 96.

On the opposite side of the body from the main access door the wallsection 12 is provided with the three longitudinally spaced arm openings115 as shown in Fig. 9. These openings with the sponge rubber gaskets ordoughnuts and the circular covering doors, designated 116, are ofduplicate form and construction as the openings, doughnuts and coveringdoors on the opposite or access door side of the body and accordingly,it is not believed that a detailed illustration of the same is required.

One of the walls of the body, preferably the part 22a of the foot wall22 is provided with an opening 117 for the connection of a power hosewith the interior of the lung structure. A portion of such hose is shownin Fig. 2 and designated 118. This hose forms the necessary powerconnection between the mechanical lung and the portable respiratorapparatus such, for example, as the apparatus illustrated in theapplication of Marvin H. Polzin et 211., Serial No. 398,986, now PatentNo. 2,780,222.

The structure of the present invention is designed for maximum strengthand rigidity with a minimum of weight and to this end the metal formingthe walls is of relatively light gauge and is suitably strengthened orreinforced, in addition to the channel beams 36 and 37 disposed beneaththe floor pan 39, by the circumferentially directed channeled ribs 120which are secured by rivets or in any other suitable manner, against theinner faces of the top and front wall sections 12 and 18 as shown inFig. 9. Certain of these circumferentially directed ribs 120 areconnected by the short longitudinally directed ribs 121, certain ofwhich border the window openings and the top and bottom edges of theutensil opening, as shown.

In addition to the hose connection port 117 one of the walls, here shownas the wall section 12, is provided with the small port 122 wherebytubes for intravenous feeding or light cords or both may be passed intothe body.

As hereinbefore set forth the mechanical lung of the present inventionis designed for maximum portability without sacrificing any of thosefeatures necessary to the most efiicient operation of a device of thischaracter.

As an example, for illustrative purposes only and without intending tolimit the invention in any respect to the example, a fully eflicientportable lung of the following dimensions has been constructed and usedwith fully satisfactory results. Inside, the height is approximately 18/2 inches; the width is approximately 26 /2 inches and the length isapproximately 71 /2 inches.

Overall dimensions with carrying gear retracted are: heightapproximately 22 inches; width approximately 27 /2 inches, and lengthapproximately 84 inches.

The bare weight of such device is not more than 120 lbs. Accordingly, itwill be seen that the device may be conveniently transported in vehiclessuch as those previously referred to and may easily be manually carriedby a four man team while in operation, i. c. with a patient therein,together with necessary accessory equipment.

I claim:

1. A mechanical lung comprising an elongate body designed to completelyenclose the torso and limbs of a patient, the body having an overalllength, width and height adapting it to installation in a vehicularcarrier having interior space limitations corresponding to those of anambulance, station wagon or the like, the body having a bottom portionand tapering upwardly in a side Wall and top forming portion ofgenerally semicylindrical contour, the body being divided longitudinallyalong a plane which is inclined to the horizontal plane of the baseportion providing a main access door and a main body part, meanspivotally coupling said door along the top edge thereof to the main bodypart, said door when opened providing a main access opening extendingthe full length of the body, a head opening in one end of the main bodyportion, a neck collar in said opening, and means at the ends of thebody upon each side thereof for manually lifting and carrying the same.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the body has end wallswhich are inclined in upwardly convergent relation, the said plane alongwhich the body is divided passing through said end walls whereby saidaccess door includes a portion of each end wall.

3. The invention according to claim 1, with longitudinally directedtubular guides at the ends of the body adjacent to the sides thereof,and said means comprising handle bars slidably mounted in the tubularguides for longitudinal adjustment from a retracted non-operativeposition to an extended operative position.

4. A mechanical lung comprising a body designed to enclose the torso andlimbs of a patient, the body having a cross section of generallysemi-cylindrical outline providing top and side walls, upwardly andinwardly inclined end walls, said side and end walls having inwardlyextending bottom portions for a base part, transverse reinforcingmembers resting upon and secured at their ends to the inwardly extendingbottom portions of the side walls, a floor pan resting upon saidreinforcing members and secured around its periphery to the side and endwalls, said body being longitudinally divided in two parts in a planelying at an inclination to the horizontal and passing through said endwalls providing a main access door part and a main body part, hingemeans between the top edge of the door part and the main body part, saidaccess door when raised providing a main access opening of a width andlength approximately equal to the length and maximum width of the body,a head opening in one end wall portion of the main body part, a neckcollar in said opening, and means facilitating manual lifting andcarrying of the body.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said last means comprisestelescoping handle bars in the ends of the base portion of the bodyadjacent to the sides thereof.

6. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said last means comprisestubular guides integral with and extending through the ends Walls inbase portion thereof and handle bars telescopically carried in thetubular guides for sliding movement therein from inoperative tooperative position.

7. The invention according to claim 4, with a pad or mattress supportcomprising a sheet of foraminous material horizontally disposed oversaid floor pan and means securing the sheet around its edges to the sideand end walls.

8. The invention according to claim 4, with means for securing theaccess door in closed position comprising a plurality of keeper lugssecured to the main body part along the lower edge of the accessopening, a plurality of pivoted locking tongues carried by the accessdoor along the lower edge portion thereof and each being designed forlocking engagement with a lug when the door is closed, and an actuatingbar connected with and common to said tongues for actuating the same asa unit.

9. A mechanical lung comprising a body designed to receive the torso andlimbs of a patient, said body having a base fiat portion upon which thebody rests and top, side and end walls, at least one of said end wallsbeing inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the base portion, thebody being longitudinally divided in two parts along a plane passingthrough the end walls and inclined to the plane of the base portionforming a minor part access door and a major body part, hinge meansconnecting the access door along its top edge with the adjacent majorbody part, a head opening in the inclined wall portion of the major bodypart, a yieldable neck collar in the head opening, and a head supportattached to the outer side of said inclined wall portion adjacent to thelower part of said head opening.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein said head support isadjustable and comprises a substantially U-shaped frame having the freeend of the side members pivotally attached to the inclined wall instraddling relation with the head opening, angle brace arms eachpivotally attached to the inclined wall adjacent to a pivoted end of aside member and extending outwardly at an angle to the adjacent sidemember, releasable coupling means between each brace arm and theadjacent frame side member, and a head supporting sling suspended insaid frame between the side members thereof.

11. The invention according to claim 9, with means at each end of thebody by which the body may be manually lifted and carried comprisinglongitudinally extensible handle bars, said means at the inclined wallend of the body including longitudinally extending tubular guides eachdisposed at the outer side of the U-shaped frame and approximating thelength of the frame side members and each having a handle membertelescoped thereinto.

12. The invention according to claim 9, wherein said main access doorhas a minor access opening for the passage of utensils into and out ofthe lung body, a minor access door hingedly connected to the main accessdoor along an edge of the minor access opening, and sealing gasketsadjacent to and outlining the edges of said main and minor access doorsfor sealing the doors around the edges of their respective openings.

13. In a mechanical lung including a body designed to enclose the torsoand limbs of a patient and formed in two principal parts, one of whichparts is a main body part and the other part being a main access doorclosing a main access opening to the main body part, means forming aseal between the edges of the access door and opposing edges of theaccess opening comprising a means providing a channel bordering one ofsaid edges and directed toward the opposing edges, a resilient sealingbody in said channel, and means bordering the other of said edges andpositioned to press into the sealing body to form a tight seal therewithwhen the access door is placed in closing position over the accessopening.

14. In a mechanical lung including a body designed to enclose the torsoand limbs of a patient and formed in two principal parts, one of whichparts is a main body part and theother part being a main access doorclosing a main access opening to the main body part, means forming aseal between the edges of the access door and opposing edges of theaccess opening comprising an inwardly projecting flange bordering theaccess door on the inner side thereof and having an edge flange forminga channel directed toward the edge of the access opening when the dooris closed, a rubber sealing body in said channel, and a presser footbordering the access opening and projecting inwardly, said foot having aface positioned to enter the channel upon the placing of the access doorin closed position and press into and form sealing engagement with thesealing body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,543,426 Terhaar Feb. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,003 France Aug. 28,1939

